Malvern Panalytical FT4 Powder Rheometer for predicting powder flow behaviour

Click2Contact

Predicting powder flow behaviour is essential for optimising manufacturing processes, yet powder behaviour is notoriously difficult to predict as it can shift dramatically — flowing like a liquid or compacting like a solid — depending on the forces applied during different stages of processing. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, achieving consistent blend uniformity is essential to ensure each tablet contains the correct amount of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). Traditional manual methods — such as angle of repose, flow through an orifice, or avalanche testing — can offer basic insights but are often limited by operator variability and poor reproducibility.

The Malvern Panalytical FT4 Powder Rheometer offers a more comprehensive and reproducible approach. It enables direct measurement of dynamic flow, bulk and shear properties, delivering deeper insight into how powders behave under conditions that mimic real-world processes — such as mixing, shearing, aeration and compaction.

In dynamic testing, the FT4 uses a rotating blade within a cylindrical vessel to determine how much energy is required to move through the powder at varying speeds. This reveals key behavioural traits, such as agglomeration, flow sensitivity, friction and friability. The instrument can also assess air permeability — the ability of air to flow through the powder bed — which is a critical factor in fluidised processes. Shear testing meanwhile provides insight into powder cohesion and wall friction — two factors that affect flow through hoppers and feeders. Importantly, FT4 methods are referenced in ASTM 7891, underlining their regulatory relevance.

The FT4 is designed to provide valuable information that will help users address their powder flow challenges — whether their objective is to optimise a formulation in a development environment, predict in-process performance, understand cohesive forces and batch differences, or ensure the quality of raw materials or intermediates.

For more information, or to book a book a demo and test the product’s benefits, visit https://www.atascientific.com.au/products/micromeritics-ft4-powder-rheometer/.